John Chapman
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was born in 1892 in Bellmoore, Retford and was the son of John Thomas a game keeper and Jane Isabella Chapman,of The Lodge,Babworth,Retford. In the 1901 census the family are living at Babworth Lodge with their family including John who is 9 years of age .By the 1911 census they have had seven children. In the 1911 census the family are living at Babworth Park Gates, Babworth Lodge. However by this time John is 'in service' and is a footman 20 years of age and single and a servant on the Hesley Hall Estate at Tickworth. John and Jane must have been extremely proud parents as four of their sons William, Henry, John and Charles joined up to serve for 'King and Country' during the 'Great War' . However this pride must have turned to despair and grief when two of them Charles and John died within 10 days of each other , both having made the ultimate sacrifice.
John enlisted in Retford and at first served with the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Sherwood Rangers with service number 2083 , he later transferred to the 1/5th battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys Regiment.) he was killed in action on 29/09/1918 and is buried in Bellicourt British Cemetery. special memorial A2 His brother Charles Martin Chapman also served during the 'Great War' in the 1st battalion Leicestershire Regiment and died 10 days before his brother on 19th September 1918.
Cpl John Chapman Retford Times 1st Nov 1918 As previously announced, Cpl John Chapman, Notts and Derbys Regt, son of Mr and Mrs J Chapman, Babworth Lodge, Retford, was killed in action in France on September 29th only ten days after his brother, Sergt Charles Martin Chapman, of the Leicestershire Regt had made the great sacrifice. In this, their second bereavement, heartfelt sympathy went forth to the parents of these brave heroes. Cpl Chapman was a bright and cheerful young man of splendid physique. And his genial manner made him very popular in the Army. He and his brother joined the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in 1914 and during his training at Retford he had an attack of pneumonia and was treated at Mrs Huntsman’s V.A.D. Hospital in Lime Tree Avenue, but his splendid physique stood him in good stead and he soon recovered. He was transferred to the Notts and Derbys some time ago and had seen some hard fighting in France. He was 26 years of age. Mr and Mrs Chapman have two other sons and a son in law on active service.
